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Monday, April 9, 2012

Since last night, Jews all over the world habe been starting the Omer period. Seven weeks from the second day of Pessach until Shavuot. I am sure that there are many Jews out there who don't really understand what is going on and why we still have to count a certain period where new barley was being brought to the Temple in Jerusalem. What does this have to do with me today ? Although the Omer is a biblical commandment, many Jews may see the whole issue as not really important.

The Jewish Kabbalah, however, presents us plenty of comments on the "Counting of the Omer". The counting has a deep impact on our soul and may lead us to a Tikun (soul rectification). Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (the RAMCHAL) describes deeper insights in the book "Kitzur HaKavanot". Among others that the seven weeks stand for seven Sefirot. Each week a different Sefirah.

The ten Sefirot are a symbolic system in Kabbalah in order to make us understand G - d's attributes. Not really understand but at least grasp something. Without this kabbalistic symbolism, we wouldn't be able to define G - d's creation of the world. How could we, as our own human understanding is very limited compared to G - d's endless and eternal wisdom ?

The first week of Sefirat HaOmer is, according to the RAMCHAL, the week of Chochmah (Wisdom). Every night while counting, Jews are able to cause a Tikun und thus transfer themselves on a higher Madrega (Level).

I am anything but a kabbalistic specialist and in order to understand the text of the RAMCHAL, I need to do plenty of further studying. What Kabbalah is basically teaching us in this respect is that, during those seven weeks, we have the power of perfeting ourselves. A spiritual preparation for receiving the Torah on Shavuot. And this is what Jews do on Shavuot: Receiving the Torah anew.

About Me

After years of living in Jerusalem, I decided to betray the city by moving to Tel Aviv.:-) In the meantime I returned to the Holy City. It is actually very good to be back in Jerusalem !!!
Nevertheless, I am still writing about Jerusalem but also include many other places in Israel.
Until some years ago, I was a Yeshiva (Michlalah) student. First with the national religious and later with the Litvishe. Also got in contact with Chassidut and this subject and lifestyle has never left me.